About Us
Janet Coffey and her husband, Don, built their Stilwell property in 1989, adding their signature barn six years later as a home for their horses, Whiskey and Chief.
Janet later started a small produce garden. Then the garden got bigger. And bigger. And just a little bigger.
Before long, Janet was growing more produce than her family could use, so she began donating the abundance to a local church.
When the pandemic hit and uprooted so much of everyday life, Janet poured her heart into the garden. What started as a backyard project began growing into something much bigger — and Coffey Grounds Farm was born, a playful name Janet had thought up years earlier.
She continued expanding the garden, adding flowers that she sold alongside her produce through Nextdoor and from a small card table on the corner. As the farm grew, Janet and Don also recognized an opportunity to create positive work experiences for local youth in Stilwell. They began bringing local kids into the farm to help tend, harvest and sell Janet's produce.
And then there was the chicken.
Janet got her first chicken despite Don's threat that he would divorce her if she added chickens to her growing repertoire. (Don't worry — he didn't.)
That little card table stand eventually got a major upgrade when Janet found a $300 truck bed that she could repurpose into a farm stand. Around the same time, she began welcoming visitors onto the property to experience the gardens and horse barn.
And that's when another idea began to take shape:
What if this could become a place where people gather?
The horse barn was no longer needed for Whiskey and Chief, and the space was sitting there full of possibility. Janet began imagining new ways to share the farm. Through food, hands-on experiences, community events and, eventually, celebrations.
One sloooowww remodel later, the barn had a new purpose.
Today, Coffey Grounds Farm is a destination for Kansas City families and the surrounding community; a place to gather, celebrate, learn, eat, explore and experience the farm.
From private celebrations and corporate events to High Tea, Happy Hour, cooking classes, seasonal experiences, fresh produce and flowers, Coffey Grounds continues to grow right alongside the community that helped shape it.
And if there's one thing Janet has learned along the way, it's that sometimes the best things start with a garden that just keeps getting a little bigger.
Janet Coffey
Founder
Janet has called Kansas City home since 1975 and moved to the Coffey Grounds property with her husband Don in 1989. A former scientist with a background in microbiology and biochemistry, Janet is excited to shift her focus to a business that nourishes her soul. Her passion for food, gardening, and community are at the front and center of her daily life on the farm. When she’s not tending to the chickens, teaching classes, or cooking up some fresh pasta, Janet loves spending time with her family and friends. She’s always on the go!
Conor Ellis
Manager of Operations
Conor joined Coffey Grounds Farm in 2021 and quickly became an essential part of the daily rhythm of the property. With a steady presence and a deep appreciation for the work that happens behind the scenes, Conor helps keep the farm running smoothly from sunup to sundown. Whether he’s coordinating projects, solving problems on the fly, or lending a hand wherever needed, he brings a calm, thoughtful energy to every corner of the farm. When he’s not managing the day-to-day operations, Conor enjoys spending time outdoors, connecting with friends and family, and being part of the growing community that makes Coffey Grounds feel like home.